Author Archives: Steph Nickel
‘S Fhada Bho Nach Fhaca Mi Sibh by Steph Beth Nickel
A bheil Gàdhlig agaibh? (Do you speak Scottish Gaelic?) I don’t imagine I’ll even be able to honestly answer, “Tha, beagan” (yes, a little), though when this post goes live, I will have just returned from two weeks across the Pond, where my son will have been married on the shores of Loch Earn, north… Read more »
Back in the Saddle by Janice L. Dick
I grew up riding horses. The rule was, if you fell off, you had to get back on again or you’d spoil the horse. Practical reasoning, uncomfortable application. And yet, to this day I love horses. This summer has been filled to the brim with family visits from England, British Columbia, and Japan, as well… Read more »
Sit on It by Brenda J. Wood
“Back in the saddle” refers to a cowboy who returned to work after recovering from an injury. Gene Autry’s song made it a household phrase. Unfortunately, it also means the back part of a chicken, the part nearest its tail. Now I’m not saying that writer’s block turns us into chicken-livered, yellow-belly, word avoiders, but… Read more »
A Sabbatical, Not an Excuse by Tracy Krauss
The book of Ecclesiastics tells us that there is a season to every activity. We are all familiar with the “list,” but nowhere does it say, “A time to write and a time to refrain from writing.” Still, God Himself provides us with a cyclical example by resting on the seventh day. It is reasonable… Read more »
Writing for Therapy by Jack Popjes
The complete title of this piece is “Writing for Therapy, Not for Publication: A Testimonial.” During the summer months I like to take a break from writing for publication, even from weekly blogging. Instead, I like to focus on reading widely, checking out books by authors new to me, stretching my mind with new ideas,… Read more »
Does Absence Make the Pen Grow Stronger? by Pamela Mytroen
Ever thought about a long distance writing relationship? Like the old adage, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder,” I wonder if some major distance from writing would make the pen grow stronger? According to a study in the Journal of Communication, (August 8, 2013, Molly Vorweck, USA Today, usatoday.com) long distance relationships were found to… Read more »
Vacation without Guilt by Violet Nesdoly
I’ve just returned from a three-week vacation. Therefore, I’m as in-touch with being in holiday mode as I’ve ever been. I spend much of each workday on writing and writing-related activities so it was from these thing I wanted a holiday. I was ready for a break by the middle of June! I decided this… Read more »
From Picture to Story by Jack Popjes
I just finished reading the second in the three-volume series of Ransom Riggs’ “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.” Riggs came across some vintage photographs of children and was struck by the peculiarities of expression, bodies, dress, or poses. He collected more of the same style of photos and eventually developed a storyline based totally… Read more »
You Gotta Wind Up Where You Started From by Janice L. Dick
Beginnings and endings are the most important parts of our stories, besides the middles! Each part is essential. Take a look at I Corinthians 12:21ff, “. . . the eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!’ ” Our stories would… Read more »
What Gerald Did Next by Brenda J. Wood
Ever read a mystery that left you flabbergasted? The murderer was not the suspect you had in mind. How did that happen? There wasn’t a clue—or at least not one you figured out. So how did the writer pull it off? Quite possibly they were surprised too.